Light in the darkness

A report written by Elisabeth and Werner Jansen

From Monday, October 10th to Monday, October 20th we visited Frank Abbas in Bulgaria. We were there for the first time and had the feeling that the clocks went slower and slower there than in Germany. We were picked up by the tour operator and had to go to our hotel by bus all through Varna for about 18 km. On the way to the hotel we saw many of the old buildings made from prefabricated slabs – remains from the communist times. The single flats had been sold as owner occupied apartments. Each owner laid out the front of his apartment with the balcony individually. For us it looked a bit disorganized and unusual. Nearly all people living in the blocks had their laundry hung up on washing lines on the balcony. Our accommodation on this package tour was just the opposite – it was a hotel with all the luxury including an indoor swimming-pool. But actually we wanted to get to know to Frank’s work.

On Tuesday we had a meeting with Frank and the Vicar of the Baptist Church Georgi Todorov. We met them in the Baptist Church and Georgi told us that he highly regarded Frank’s work and how he succeeded in changing the life of at least some children. But he also said that Frank still had a long way to go and that he needed a great deal of patience to reach his aim.

After a time of praying we got on a local bus and went to the ghetto. The busses here are a mixture of trams and busses, they are run by electricity picked up from an overhead cable. At the bus terminal the ghetto began. What we saw there was unbelievable, the way how the people live here really is unimaginable: rubbish and a penetrating smel everywhere. Frank was immediately surrounded by a group of boys. Together we walked through the streets. Elisabeth was asked by an elderly woman to pray for her. The little children were all very warm hearted, were beaming at us and grabbed our hands. They even quarreled about who should hold our hands.

Frank led us to his station. Over a small stair case we enetered a room of about 16 square meters size which was used for giving lessons, playing games there and for holding services. Then Frank showed us his “apartment”, we were speechless. “How can you live here?” was our first question. It’s a wonder and only by the help of his strong faith Frank can bear this sort of life. We wouldn’t be able to live like that, it’s completely different to ours, so many renunciations on a normal life. Back in our hotel we only had one wish: to take a shower and to change clothes.

On Wednesday we had planned to to get to know to the better sides of Bulgaria. The Black Sea is beautiful. We were fascinated by the strong surfs and the choice of beautiful shells, some of them we collected of course.

On Thursday we went to the ghetto by bus alone. Frank was already waiting for us with his boys at the terminal. It was a nice feeling for us to be given such a warm welcome. We wandered long the streets. Little children accompanied us shouting loudly. A man sitting in front of his house asked Werner to pray for him. We went on to Frank’s station. Here we were waiting for Carol, a nurse from England, who carried out therapeutic treatment for the children. First of all we came together for praying. “That’s very important”, Frank said and a moment later we realized why, we suddenly heard two shots just below us in the street, it didn’t seem to be unusual. Werner immediately was occupied by a young boy who crept on his lap, together they drew pictures.

Frank took me on an excursion through the whole ghetto. The ghetto is guarded and controlled by the Mafia. There are even three villa in the ghetto and now guess who lives in them. A real policy is carried out here: slave trade, prostitution and everything else which you know from bad films.

In the evening on the way back to the hotel we were rather shattered being still close to all those impressions which we had to assimilate.

On Friday relaxing was on the plan. On Saturday we had a meeting with Carol in Dobrich where she lived. Again we went by bus because it was the most reasonable way of public transport. Before that Frank showed us another ghetto in Varna which was even worse than the one Frank lived in. The people there literally lived on 10 meter high hills of rubbish surrounded by a 15 meter wide ditch whose water smells after a sewer. After having prayed it was time to to set off because were being watched.

The aim of our journey hadn’t been reached yet, a minibus took us to Dobrich where Carol was already waiting for us. She lived about 25 km away from Varna. Now we got to know to the interior of the country and we found out that it really was beautiful. Carol had a house with a big garden and its soil was fertile, so she had a good harvest this year. Carol trained people as worship dancers. She would like to extend her house with a studio especially built for worship dancing. If you want to know why the answer is easy: with singing, dancing and rejoicing all separating walls will come down, AMEN.

On Sunday we again met in the Baptist Church, there we celebrated Thanksgiving. Frank took an active part in the service together with five of his boys. This would have been unimaginable a year ago, but the result of a “change” was to be seen here. We had lunch together with all members of the Baptist parish. Georgi said good-bye to us mentioning that we would be a blessing for Frank, which he confirmed. We were blessed as well by the friendly welcome we had received and the friendship with Frank.

In the end Narbo blessed us as well and embraced us cordially. Perhaps I should mention that Narbo is a 12 year old boy from the ghetto. I thought of the book of Joel in the Bible: “I shall pour my spirit over all mankind and your sons and daughters shall foretell.”

It was time for the farewell. But before that we handed out the parkas to the boys which were a donation. Everyone was extremely happy with them, because they were brand-new. All of them waved to us for a long time when we were leaving. Good bye – until next year?

Elisabeth and Werner Jansen, October 2008